New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1887-07-06
Given to Hos 1iitaIiity
BYCATHARINE LENT STEVENSON.

my wife, sir. She's azaOays ready to
:eceive visitors. I made it my one
i,ule when we began housekeeping.
Said Helen, we may not have the
tnest kind Of cookery on our table, but
there's one thing must always be there,
J, knife and fork for the stranger that
b within our gates. j" We've follow
I'd that rule almost to the letter for
almost fifteen years, and it's wonder
Ml how the Lord honors the cheerful
:giver; there pretty generally is a stran-
ger within oar gates, while our neigh
sors''
Ishould think there might be, inter-
tupted Deacon Grants companion,
with an amused smile, ''if you hail
aim on the road a mile from your
home, and force him back with you in
1pite Of himself; on wash-day, too,''
se continued, apologetically, as. emery
ng from the stable door, he saw a tall,
tlender woman coming around the
:orner of the house with a basket piled
high with newly washed-clothes.
"Wash-day? Well what if it Isl?
Folks eat on wash-day, don't they?
Helen!'' as thay approached the
slothes-line -'.this is DR.. Brownell, the
young man who is going to put up his
Sign in our village. | was lucky enough
to meet him on the road just now, so [
brought him back to. dinner. Near
teady, amt itp''
every nearly, James. How do you
DO. sir? The clothes-yard is hardly
the place for a formal Introduction, but
oil times and seasons are alike to my
husband;" and the smile which lighted
Mrs Grants once beautiful, but now
sadly worn face had in it tinge of
bitterness which did not escape the doc
tors watchful eye.
t'Poor woman" he murmured to
himself; s'jts just as her aunt told me;
sshe's daily immolation on the alter OF
hospitality
':Of course they are,'' said the dea-
con, all unconcious of this by-play of
thought; where's the difference in
times and seasons? If mans ready
to receive his friends on Thursday af-
sternoon, why should he be ready on
Monday morning? A friends friend,
and days a day. I don't see that it
matters much what name you call it.
But come into the house, doctor, you'll
tnelt in this broiling sum- and the dea-
con lead the way, through the vine
severed porch, into the cool sitt1ng-
soom.
The doctor sank into the easy chair
proHered him with a sigh of relief 1t
was such change from the glare out
side-this dainty room, with its screened
windows, it's floor covered with cool
mating, its vases of delicate flowers,
isn't it delicious?" he exclaimed.
les" said the deacon, ..this is
what [ call comfort. Excuse me if take
off my coat After a hot days work,
to come in and stretch yourself on this
lounge for an hour is something worth
While, and enjoy 1t twice as much if
there is somebody with me-
An opening door just then let in the
rattle of dishes from an adjoining
room, and the doctor found himself
wondering how many hours day Mr..
Grant took to enjoy the GOODNESS !; but
he only said, "you are very hos
pitable man, Deacon Grant
'.Well!' said the deacon, with the
air OF a man who, though not uncon-
ncious OF his merits, could yet be hum
ole in that consciousness I've al
ways considered hospitality one of the
cardinal virtues in fact, may say the
cardinal one. What greater condem-
nation could the Master pronounce
than I was stranger, and We took me
mot in - I've tried to live with that
passage before me for the past fifteen
years, and [ can assure you that no
~one was ever turned empty from mn,
door. Why, I've had dozens of poor
fellows stop here months at time when
they have been looking for work. I
! don't say it boastingly, but you can ask
Deacon Grants reputation anywhere
about here, and you'll be told that T. NJ
given to hospitality
4.You must be peculiarly fortunate in
securing servants said the young
doctor quietly, cor else the strain Of SO
much generosity would come very
| heavily upon your wife y
well, no." said the deacon uneasily.
sits pretty hard work to get good
help, that's a fact, especially as CAM
afford to pay fancy prices. We have
only young girl this summer, but an
pold aunt of mine is living here, who is
as spry as a cricket, and helps about a
good deal. Then we have no children,
and woman 5 work is nothing anyhow
Il think your wife looks far from
well, and as if she were working much
beyond her strength" said the doctor
an dis most assured professional tone.
.'WhoP Helen? Oh, no, she always
looks that way, and She's perfectly
well I never heard her complain in
sthe fifteen years we've lived together
But the thought evidently troubled
Sthe good deacon, for, after a few irrel-
evant remarks, he excused himself, and
the doctor heard his voice a moment
later: Is there anything / can do to
help you women folks?
No, nothing Z was the sharp reply;
ss.housework amt mans business,
&Srpf don